ELECTRICAL CONNECTION VIA PINS

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical half-connector comprising: - a first row (302A) of pins (118); and - a first piece (124A, 126A, 128A) for supporting the pins (118) of the first row (302A). The first support piece (124A, 126A, 128A) has complementary first and second attachment parts (306A, 308A), so that the first support piece (124A, 126A, 128A) can be attached to a second support piece (124B, 126B, 128B) of another electrical connector half. This second support piece (124B, 126B, 128B) is identical to the first support piece (124A, 126A, 128A) through the cooperation of the first attachment part (306A, 306B) of each with the second attachment part (308A, 308B) of the other. See Figure 3 for abbreviations.

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BY MEANS OF PINS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical half-connector, an electrical connector comprising two such electrical half-connectors, an electrical installation comprising such an electrical connector and a method for manufacturing such an electrical connector. Technological background

[0002] Prior art is known electrical connectors having pins distributed over first and second rows, and at least one support for these pins to hold them in place.

[0003] More specifically, a support is generally provided at each end. Each support then has holes for the passage of the pins, into which the latter are pressed.

[0004] Forced insertion is a delicate step to implement, which can lead to bending or even breakage of some pins. For this reason, the lengths of the pins are limited to a maximum of 60 mm.

[0005] In addition, the support can also be made by molding. However, in this case, it is very difficult to ensure correct positioning of the first and second rows of pins during molding. Summary of the invention

[0006] To solve these problems, a half-electrical connector is proposed comprising: - a first row of pins; and - a first support piece for the pins of the first row; characterized in that the first support piece has complementary first and second hooking parts, so that the first support piece can hook onto a second support piece of another electrical half-connector, this second support piece being identical to the first support piece, by cooperation of the first hooking part of each with the second hooking part of the other.

[0007] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to easily produce the support by molding. Indeed, it is easy to mold a support piece around a single row of pins. Because this support piece can be attached to another support piece With twins, it is easy to obtain an electrical connector with two rows of pins, without requiring force insertion of the pins.

[0008] Thanks to the invention, it is also possible to obtain an electrical connector with rows of pins whose length is greater than that of the pins of the connectors of the prior art.

[0009] The invention may further include one or more of the following optional features, according to any technically possible combination.

[0010] Optionally, the first and second attachment parts of the first support piece are designed to allow the first support piece to be clipped to the second support piece. This is a simple way to attach the first and second support pieces.

[0011] Optionally, the first attachment part includes a flexible hook, and the second attachment part includes an opening for receiving the flexible hook of the second support piece of the other electrical connector half. This is a simple way to implement clipping.

[0012] Optionally, the first support piece also includes a guide pin and a guide opening, so that when the first support piece is brought close to the associated second support piece, the guide pin of the first support piece engages in the guide opening of the second support piece, and the guide opening of the first support piece receives the guide pin of the second support piece. This facilitates the joining of the first and second pieces.

[0013] Optionally, the first support piece also includes a guide pin designed to fit into a complementary guide hole in an electrical device. This facilitates connection to the electrical device.

[0014] Optionally also, the electrical half-connector comprises a plurality of first support pieces, each having complementary first and second hooking parts, so that each first support piece can hook onto a second support piece of another electrical half-connector, this second support piece being identical to the first support piece, by cooperation of the first hooking part of each with the second hooking part of the other.

[0015] An electrical connector comprising two half-connectors according to the invention is also proposed, with the pair of first support piece and second support piece identical and hooked to each other by cooperation of the first hooking part of each with the second hooking part of the other.

[0016] An electrical installation comprising: is also proposed - the first and second electrical devices comprising first and second bases respectively; and - an electrical connector according to the invention, a first end of the pins of the first and second rows being inserted into the first socket and a second end of the pins of the first and second rows being inserted into the second socket.

[0017] The invention may further include one or more of the following optional features, according to any technically possible combination.

[0018] Optionally, the first electrical device includes a power module and the second electrical device includes a power module control device. This is a common case where an electrical connection is required.

[0019] Optionally, the electrical installation also includes a partition separating the first and second electrical devices and having an opening through which the electrical connector passes. The electrical connector has a support formed by identical first and second support pieces attached to each other, this support extending into the opening in the partition. In this way, the support forms a barrier that isolates the pins from the partition, particularly to prevent accidental electrical connections to the partition when the latter is made of metal.

[0020] A mobility device comprising an electrical installation according to the invention or an electrical connector according to the invention is also proposed.

[0021] A mobility device is, for example, a motorized land vehicle, an aircraft or a drone.

[0022] A motorized land vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, a motorized bicycle or a motorized wheelchair.

[0023] A method for manufacturing an electrical connector according to the invention is also proposed, comprising: - a molding of the first support piece around the pins of the first row; - a molding of the second support piece around the pins of the second row; and - an attachment of the first support piece to the second support piece, by cooperation of the first attachment part of each with the second attachment part of the other. Brief description of the figures

[0024] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - [Fig. 1] is a cross-sectional view of an electrical installation comprising an example of an electrical connector according to the invention, - [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.1], with the electrical connector connected to two electrical devices, - [Fig. 3] is a three-dimensional view of the electrical connector, - [Fig. 4] is a block diagram of an example of a manufacturing process and use of the electrical connector, - [Fig. 5] is a three-dimensional view of a half of an electrical connector obtained during the manufacture of the electrical connector, - Figure 6 is a three-dimensional view of an assembly of one electrical half-connector with another electrical half-connector during the manufacture of the electrical connector, and - [Fig.7] is a three-dimensional view of the connected electrical connector. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] With reference to [Fig.1] and [Fig.2], an example of an electrical installation 100 in which the invention is implemented will now be described.

[0026] The electrical installation 100 initially comprises first and second electrical devices 102, 104, separated from each other at least locally. For example, the electrical device 104 is a power module, while the electrical device 102 is a control device for the power module. The power module is, for example, part of an on-board charger (OBC) for a mobility device. Such an on-board charger is designed, in particular, to rectify an alternating voltage from an electrical network external to the mobility device in order to charge a battery of the mobility device. The power module implements, for example, a switching arm, and the control device is designed p

[0027] to control the switching of this switching arm. The mobility device is, for example, one of the following: a motor vehicle, an electric bicycle, an electric drone, an electric scooter, etc.

[0028] The electrical devices 102, 104 respectively comprise bases 106, 108 each having holes 106', 108' for inserting pins (called "pins" in English).

[0029] Each of the electrical devices 102, 104 further includes, for example, two guide holes 110A, 110B and 112A, 112B.

[0030] The electrical installation 100 further includes a wall 114 extending between the electrical devices 102, 104. The wall 114 is generally metallic, for example made of aluminium, and is for example part of a protective housing of one of the two devices 102, 104, for example of the second device 104. An opening 115 is provided in the wall 114.

[0031] The electrical installation 100 further includes an electrical connector 116 for connecting the electrical devices 102, 104 to each other, by connecting, on one side, to the first socket 106 and, on the other side, to the second socket 108.

[0032] More specifically, the electrical connector 116 has pins 118 having, on the first side, first ends 120 designed to be inserted respectively into the holes 106' of the first socket 106 and, on the second side, second ends 122 designed to be inserted respectively into the holes 108' of the second socket 108. For example, the pins 118 are all straight and parallel to each other.

[0033] The electrical connector 116 further includes at least one pin support 118 designed to hold the pins 118 in place by clamping them. In the example described, three supports are provided: a first end support 124 located on the side of the first ends 120 of the pins 118, a second end support 126 located on the side of the second ends 122 of the pins 118, and an intermediate support 128 located between the two end supports 124, 126. The supports 124, 126, 128 are, for example, separated from each other.

[0034] As can be seen in [Fig.2], the intermediate support 128 is positioned along the pins 118 so that it extends into the opening 115 of the wall 114 when the electrical connector 116 is connected between the first and second electrical devices 102, 104.

[0035] The first end support 124 may include two guide pins 130A, 130B designed to fit respectively into the guide holes 110A, 110B of the first electrical device 102, in order to guide the electrical connector 116 when connecting it to the first electrical device 102. Similarly, the second end support 126 may include two guide pins 132A, 132B designed to fit respectively into the guide holes 112A, 112B of the second electrical device 104, in order to guide the electrical connector 116 when connecting it to the second electrical device 104.

[0036] With reference to [Fig.3], [Fig.5] and [Fig.6], the electrical connector 116 will be described in more detail.

[0037] The pins 118 are distributed over first and second rows 302A, 302B. Thus, the first ends 120 of the pins 118 of the first row 302A, as well as the first ends 120 of the pins 118 of the second row 302B, are aligned parallel to a first direction called transverse T1. Similarly, the second ends 122 of the pins 118 of the first row 302A, as well as the second ends 122 of the pins of the second row 302B, are aligned parallel to a second direction called transverse T2.

[0038] When the pins 118 are straight and parallel to each other (as in the illustrated example), the first and second transverse directions Tl, T2 are the same and are perpendicular to the direction of the pins 118. In other cases, for example when the pins 118 are curved, the first and second transverse directions Tl, T2 could be different.

[0039] Furthermore, each support 124, 126, 128 comprises a first support piece 124A, 126A, 128A clamping the pins 118 of the first row 302A and a second support piece 124B, 126B, 128B clamping the pins 118 of the second row 302B.

[0040] For each support 124, 126, 128, the first and second support pieces 124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 128A, 128B are identical to each other and each designed to hook onto the other, for example to clip onto it.

[0041] More specifically, for the first end support 124, the first support piece 124A has complementary first and second attachment parts 306A, 308A. The second support piece 124B being identical, it also has complementary first and second attachment parts 306B, 308B. In order for the first and second support pieces 124A, 124B to attach to each other, the first attachment part 306A of the first support piece 124A is thus designed to cooperate with the second attachment part 308B of the second support piece 124B, while the second attachment part 308A of the first support piece 124A is designed to cooperate with the first attachment part 306B of the second support piece 124B.

[0042] For example, each first hooking part 306A, 306B has a flexible hook and each second hooking part 308A, 308B has a receiving opening for the flexible hook of the other part, to ensure clipping.

[0043] The same structure is implemented for example for the second end support 126 and / or for the intermediate support 128.

[0044] In addition, for each of the first and second end supports 124, 126, each of the first and second support pieces 124A, 124B and 126A, 126B may include a guide pin 310A, 310B and an opening 312A, 312B for receiving the guide pin of the other support piece 124A, 124B and 126A, 126B, in order to guide the hooking of the two support pieces 124A, 124B and 126A, 126B.

[0045] Furthermore, the first and second support pieces 124A, 124B of the first end support 124 may respectively include the guide pins 130A, 130B. Similarly, the first and second parts 126A, 126B of the second end support 126 may respectively include the guide pins 132A, 132B.

[0046] With reference to [Fig.4], an example of a method 400 for manufacturing and using the electrical connector 116 will now be described.

[0047] During a step 402, the first row 302A of pins 118 is received. Preferably, the pins 118 are received already attached to each other by retaining tabs, for example formed from the material along with the pins 118.

[0048] During a step 404, each first support piece 124A, 126A, 128A is molded around the pins 118 of the first row 302A, using one or more molds. Each mold comprises, for example, two half-molds designed to be closed onto the pins 118 of the first row 302A. For example, all the first support pieces 124A, 126A, 128A are produced simultaneously using a single mold.

[0049] The molding is facilitated because the retaining tabs hold the pins 118 in place.

[0050] After molding, during a step 406, the retaining tabs are cut.

[0051] The result of steps 402 to 406 makes it possible to obtain a half electrical connector, such as illustrated for example in [Fig.5].

[0052] Returning to [Fig.4], steps 402 to 406 are repeated with the second row 302B of pins 118, to manufacture the second support pieces 124B, 126B, 128B.

[0053] At this stage, two half-connectors have thus been manufactured.

[0054] During a step 408 illustrated in [Fig. 6], the two half-connectors are hooked together. To do this, each first support piece 124A, 126A, 128A is brought close to its associated second support piece 124B, 126B, 128B. During this approach, each pair of first and second hooking parts 306A, 308B and 306B, 308A cooperate to hook the two support pieces 124A, 124B, 126A, 126B, 128A, 128B. For example, the flexible hook bends to enter the associated opening and then releases to secure the clip.

[0055] At this stage, the electrical connector 116, for example as illustrated in [Fig.3], has been manufactured.

[0056] Returning to [Fig. 4], during step 410, the electrical connector 116 is connected between the two electrical devices 102, 104. More specifically, for this purpose, the electrical connector 116 passes through the opening 115 in the wall 114. Furthermore, the upper ends 120 of the pins 118 are inserted into the first socket 106. This connection is facilitated by the insertion of the guide pins 130A, 130B into the guide openings 110A, 110B, respectively. Similarly, the The lower ends 122 of the pins 118 are inserted into the second socket 108. This connection is facilitated by the insertion of the guide pins 132A, 132B into the guide openings 112A, 112B respectively.

[0057] The result of this step 410 is illustrated in [Fig.7].

[0058] It is clear that an electrical connector such as the one described above makes it possible to avoid forcing the pins into place, even if the latter are distributed over two rows.

[0059] It should also be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It will indeed be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in light of the information just disclosed to them.

[0060] In the detailed presentation of the invention given above, the terms used shall not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the embodiments set forth in this description, but shall be interpreted as including all equivalents which can be foreseen by a person skilled in the art by applying their general knowledge to the implementation of the teaching which has just been disclosed to them.

Claims

Demands

1. An electrical connector (116) comprising two half-connectors, the first half-connector comprising a first row (302A) of pins (118) and a pin support piece (124A, 126A, 128A) for the pins (118) of the first row (302A), the second half-connector comprising a second row (302B) of pins (118) and a pin support piece (124B, 126B, 128B) for the pins (118) of the second row (302B), the support pieces (124A, 126A, 128A, 124B, 126B, 128B) comprising complementary first and second hooking parts (306A, 308A, 306B, 308B), such that one of the support pieces (124A, 126A, 128A) can attach to the other of the support pieces (124B, 126B, 128B), the support pieces (124A, 126A, 128A, 124B, 126B, 128B) being identical, by cooperation of the first attachment part (306A, 306B) of one with the second attachment part (308A, 308B) of the other.

2. Electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first and second hook parts (306A, 308A, 306B, 308B) are designed to achieve clipping of one of the support parts (124A, 126A, 128A) with the other support part (124B, 126B, 128B).

3. Electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the first hooking part (306A, 306B) of the support pieces (306A, 308A, 306B, 308B) has a flexible hook and wherein the second hooking part (308A, 308B) has a receiving opening for the flexible hook of the support piece (124B, 126B, 128B) of another electrical connector half.

4. Electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each support piece (124A, 126A) has a guide pin (310A) and a guide opening (312A), such that, when one support piece (124A, 126A) is brought near another support piece (124B, 126B), the guide pin (310A) of each support piece fits into the guide opening (312B) of the other support piece (124B, 126B).

5. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each support piece (124A, 126A) has a guide pin (130A, 132A) designed to fit into a hole guidance (110A, 112A) complementary to an electrical device (102).

6. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the two half-connectors comprises a plurality of support pieces (124A, 126A, 128A), each of which comprises complementary first and second attachment parts (306A, 308A), such that each support piece (124A, 126A, 128A) can attach to a support piece (124B, 126B, 128B) of the other half-connector, this support piece of the other half-connector (124B, 126B, 128B) being identical to the support piece of the half-connector (124A, 126A, 128A), by cooperation of the first attachment part (306A, 306B) with the second attachment part (308A, 308B) of the other one.

7. Electrical installation (100) comprising: - first and second electrical devices (102, 104) comprising respectively first and second sockets (106, 108); and - an electrical connector (116) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a first end (120) of the pins (118) of the first and second rows (302A, 302B) being inserted into the first socket (106) and a second end (122) of the pins (118) of the first and second rows (302A, 302B) being inserted into the second socket (108).

8. Electrical installation (100) according to claim 7, wherein the first electrical device (102) comprises a power module and the second electrical device (104) comprises a power module control device.

9. Electrical installation (100) according to claim 8, further comprising a wall (114) separating the first and second electrical devices (102, 104) and having an opening (115) through which the electrical connector (116) passes, the electrical connector (116) comprising a support (128) formed of identical first and second support pieces (128A, 128B) hooked to each other, this support (128) extending into the opening (115) of the wall (114).

10. Method (400) for manufacturing an electrical connector (116) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: - a molding (404) of the first support piece (124A, 126A, 128A) around the pins (118) of the first row (302A); - a molding (404) of the second support piece (124B, 126B, 128B) around the pins (118) of the second row (302B); and - a hooking (408) of the first support piece (124A, 126A, 128A) to the second support piece (124B, 126B, 128B), by cooperation of the first hooking part (306A, 306B) of each with the second hooking part (308A, 308B) of the other.